Finite-time stabilization of a network of strings

Abstract

We investigate the finite-time stabilization of a tree-shaped network of strings. Transparent boundary conditions are applied at all the external nodes. At any internal node, in addition to the usual continuity conditions, a modified Kirchhoff law incorporating a damping term $\alpha u_t$ with a coefficient $\alpha$ that may depend on the node is considered. We show that for a convenient choice of the sequence of coefficients $\alpha$, any solution of the wave equation on the network becomes constant after a finite time. The condition on the coefficients proves to be sharp at least for a star-shaped tree. Similar results are derived when we replace the transparent boundary condition by the Dirichlet (resp. Neumann) boundary condition at one external node.